Expanded Coverage of Personal Technology

Starting today, The Times launches a weekly page or pages devoted to news, trends and advice on personal technology--ranging from cyberspace to consumer electronics to personal computing to telecommunications. “The Cutting Edge: Focus on Personal Technology” will appear each Thursday in Business and builds on our daily technology coverage and the focus on tech in Monday’s Cutting Edge pages. The Monday section will continue to include personal technology.

Among today’s features:

* Like to use your mobile phone anywhere you go? Watch out. More and more places are banning them. A1

* Free personal computer deals sound great, but many new companies offering them are having trouble staying in business. C1

* Spending too much money buying things online? New Internet filtering software can put limits on your Web spending. C1

* Your Internet Guide includes a new feature, Click Here, listing recommended Web sites. It also includes Latimes.com’s Guide to the Week Ahead, listing events and other happenings on the Internet. C6

* Gamers’ Corner reviews “Midnight Madness.” C6

* Telecom Talk looks at charges and fees facing you if you don’t make a lot of long-distance calls. C6